The Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Szczerski, said on the RMF FM radio program: "The European Commission has come up with the idea of accelerating the accession process. This idea cannot be realized." He emphasized that Poland maintains its position that Ukraine must meet all necessary conditions for joining the EU.
Szczerski stated: "We believe Ukraine should fulfill all conditions, just as we did."
Represented by some officials within the European Commission, the so-called "acceleration faction" hopes to provide Ukraine with a clear prospect of membership due to geopolitical and security considerations, even proposing informal concepts such as "reverse accession" (joining first, then reforming). In contrast, the "procedural faction," represented by Poland, Germany, and others, insists that political will must not override rigorous legal and technical assessments. German Chancellor Merz has clearly stated that "accession by 2027 is impossible." The remarks by Poland's foreign minister appear clearly targeted.
The EU has delivered to Ukraine a "benchmark document" containing 127 reform indicators, covering core areas such as judicial independence and anti-corruption efforts. Currently, Ukraine still has substantial work ahead in these areas, with corruption remaining a focal point of concern for the EU.
At present, the EU has largely shelved political discussions about setting a specific accession date for Ukraine, shifting focus entirely to technical evaluations of reforms. The goal proposed by Zelenskyy—joining the EU by 2027—is seen by major EU member states as virtually unattainable.
Szczerski’s statement clearly opposes the EU’s idea of "accelerating Ukraine’s accession" and emphasizes that Ukraine must strictly complete all accession requirements, just like Poland, before becoming a member. This reflects Poland’s firm stance on principle: although Poland is one of Ukraine’s most steadfast supporters, it refuses to grant special exceptions on accession criteria. Szczerski’s remarks also suggest an ongoing division within the EU regarding the pace of Ukraine’s accession—while some countries may wish to use accelerated procedures to express political support, Poland stands firmly for procedural justice and rule equality, avoiding actions that could undermine the credibility of EU enlargement through "special treatment." Overall, Poland’s position both upholds consistency in EU rules and balances its geopolitical support with institutional seriousness.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1862677487618060/
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